Methods of using silica-titania clad fibers
First Claim
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1. A method of performing an in vivo medical procedure comprising:
- a) providing an optical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the optical fiber comprising;
1) a highly transmissive core comprising silica-based glass;
2) an outermost cladding layer located on the core, the outermost cladding layer comprising silica-titania glass that is less transmissive than the silica-based glass core, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the core to the thickness of the outermost cladding is about 4;
1 or less;
b) introducing the distal end of the optical fiber into the body of a patient;
c) transmitting energy from the proximal end of the optical fiber through the distal end of the optical fiber to perform a medical procedure.
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Abstract
Methods of delivering laser energy for medical procedures or industrial processes using an optical fiber having a core formed of a highly transmissive silica-based glass core and an outermost cladding layer of silica-titania glass.
46 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of performing an in vivo medical procedure comprising:
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a) providing an optical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the optical fiber comprising; 1) a highly transmissive core comprising silica-based glass; 2) an outermost cladding layer located on the core, the outermost cladding layer comprising silica-titania glass that is less transmissive than the silica-based glass core, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the core to the thickness of the outermost cladding is about 4;
1 or less;b) introducing the distal end of the optical fiber into the body of a patient; c) transmitting energy from the proximal end of the optical fiber through the distal end of the optical fiber to perform a medical procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of performing an in vivo medical procedure comprising:
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a) providing an optical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the optical fiber comprising; 1) a core comprising silica-based glass that transmits about 95% or more of laser energy from the proximal to the distal end of the optical fiber; 2) an outermost cladding layer located on the core, the outermost cladding layer consisting essentially of 92.5 wt % silica glass and 7.5 wt % titania; 3) a cladding layer located between the core and the outermost cladding, the cladding layer comprising a material having an index of refraction less than the index of refraction of the silica-based glass forming the core; b) introducing the distal end of the optical fiber into the body of a patient, wherein the distal end of the optical fiber contacts body tissue; c) transmitting energy from the proximal end of the optical fiber through the distal end of the optical fiber to perform a medical procedure, wherein the optical performance of the optical fiber remains substantially constant after contact with the body tissue. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of delivering laser energy to material to cause a thermal effect, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an optical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the optical fiber comprising; 1) a highly transmissive core comprising silica-based glass; 2) an outermost cladding layer located on the core, the outermost cladding layer comprising silica-titania glass that is less transmissive than the silica-based glass core, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the core to the thickness of the outermost cladding is about 4.1 or less; b) placing the distal end of the optical fiber proximate material to be processed; c) transmitting energy from the proximal end of the optical fiber through the distal end of the optical fiber, the transmitted energy sufficient to raise the temperature of the material to cause a thermal effect. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification